Canada made it tougher than it needed to be, but at the end of the day, the host country walked away on Monday night with a 6-3 win over Finland, securing the top spot in Group A at the 2022 World Juniors.
Six different players found the back of the net for Canada, as they came out on top in their toughest test yet in Edmonton. Olen Zellweger had three assists, Mason McTavish had a goal and two assists, and Connor Bedard and Ridly Greig each registered a goal and a helper. Dylan Garand grabbed his third win at the tournament.
The first period was quite competitive between the two top teams in Group A, but Canada took advantage of their opportunities, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Finland added a late goal to cut the lead to two heading into the first intermission, but a tally 30 seconds into the second by Canada killed that momentum.
MORE: Watch the 2022 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)
Canada dominated in the second, building a 5-1 lead by the end of 40 minutes. Some controversy and penalty trouble by the Canadians allowed Finland to cut the lead to 5-3, but an empty-net goal by William Dufour secured the victory.
Finland received goals from Samuel Helenius, Joakim Kemell and Roby Jarventie in the losing effort. It was the team’s first loss at the 2022 World Juniors.
The quarterfinals are up next for each team, as Canada finished as the No. 1 team in Group A and Finland gets No. 2. While Canada knows it will play Switzerland, who finished as the No. 4 team in Group B, Finland must wait and see the results of the Germany-Sweden game tonight to determine who they will play. The quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday.
The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from the matchup at the 2022 World Juniors.
Canada vs. Finland score
Matchup | P1 | P2 | P3 | OT | F |
Canada | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Finland | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Olen Zellweger tracker
Each game, TSN will highlight one player on Team Canada to follow along with during the matchup.
For the Finland game, we will follow Olen Zellweger. The Canada defenseman has been phenomenal on the back end for the team, taking on top minutes for Dave Cameron’s crew.
The 2021 second-round pick by the Ducks has picked up a goal and two assists so far in Edmonton. His +8 rating is the third-highest at the tournament, only behind McTavish and USA’s Brock Faber.
1st period
One of the most impressive parts of Zellweger’s game is his ability to work the offensive blue line. He takes the puck from the wall, walks the line and fires a shot on net that gets deflected by Brennan Othmann and into the net to open the scoring.
2nd period
Again, Zellweger’s ability to find room and space at the point for shots is remarkable. It’s not just getting the chance to shoot, it’s getting his shots through as well. A one-timer from him results in a goal after Ridly Greig popped in the rebound.
Zellweger picks up his third assist of the night, finding Mason McTavish for a one-timer. His passing has been really impressive, either working the puck up the ice or drawing defenders away in the offensive zone and finding teammates.
Canada vs. Finland live updates, highlights from 2022 World Juniors
Final: Canada 6, Finland 3
8:44 p.m. — GOAL! Dufour fires one into the empty net and the lead is back up to three. A great play by McTavish to chop the puck out of the zone, leading to the goal.
8:43 p.m. — With an offensive zone faceoff, Finland pulls the goalie. 2:32 left in the third and Canada is still up by two.
8:40 p.m. — GOAL! Roby Jarventie finishes off a slick tic-tac-toe passing play to convert on the power play. Garand had it in the glove, but couldn’t squeeze it shut. Del Mastro, a defenseman, had just come out of the box for Canada and had to play up at the top of the box as a forward.
8:39 p.m. — Dufour is called for tripping and Finland gets another 5 on 3 opportunity. This one is for only 29 seconds. Canada really making things a lot harder than they need to be.
8:35 p.m. — Finland goes back to the power play as Ethan del Mastro is called for tripping. Canada still has a three-goal lead, but they are not making things easy.
8:32 p.m. — Canada’s penalty kill comes up huge and kills off the major. Finland did not have a shot during the four minutes of 5 on 4. Excellent shot blocking and disrupting passes by the Canadian PK unit. .
8:24 p.m. — Canada kills off the Sebrango penalty and it’s down to 5 on 4. What a shift by Greig, who blocked multiple shots. He’s been great for Canada anchoring the third line/PK unit.
8:21 p.m. — It’s a major to Cuylle and this third period just got a lot more interesting. Finland will have a 5 on 3 for 1:01, then the major penalty for another 3:59 where they can score as much as they want on the man advantage.
8:19 p.m. — Will Cuylle steps up on Juuse Maenpaa and hits him knee-on-knee and is getting called for tripping. The officials will go to review, it’s clear Cuylle hits Maenpaa with his knee. Regardless of whether it’s a minor or major, Finland gets a 5 on 3 for 1:01.
8:16 p.m. — Finland has begun their push early in the third, and after a great shift by their top line, Finland will go to the power play as Donovan Sebrango clips Kemell high with the stick.
8:10 p.m. — GOAL! After review, the officials deem it is inconclusive, the call on the ice stands as a goal. It will be Joakim Kemell’s goal, as he tipped Niemala’s shot. No penalty given to Canada despite the failed challenge. 5-2 Canada just over three minutes into the game.
After an inconclusive video review, Finland’s goal stands. They now trail Canada 5-2. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/wlflhIykh2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 16, 2022
8:05 p.m. — It looks like Finland has a goal as Topi Niemala’s shot from the point gets past Garand. However, the officials are reviewing the play as it looked like the puck went out of the play into the netting and came back into play. You can clearly see Raty and Grieg stop skating and by their reactions, they saw the puck went out of play. The question is if the officials have clear evidence on video of the puck going out of play.
2nd period
7:42 p.m. — Canada extends its lead to 5-1 after two periods. The second was owned by Canada for the most part, with Finland getting an opportunity here or there. The key for Canada was killing the momentum at the beginning of the period with the Greig tally after Helenius’ goal for Finland at the end of the first.
7:37 p.m. — GOAL! Well, no doubting this one, as McTavish collects his seventh goal of the tournament. He one-times a pass from Zellweger up top over Merilainen to make it 5-1 Canada.
Mason McTavish with his 7th of the tournament! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/JkfOrGJqy7
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2022
7:37 p.m. — It’s a game of inches. A shot from Johnson on the power play is at firsts topped by Merilainen, but the rebound sneaks out to the side of the ent. McTavish is there, but his attempt goes off the post.
7:35 p.m. — Canada gets their second power play chance as Rubin Rafkin is called for interference, knocking down Stankoven in on the forecheck.
7:30 p.m. — A weird bounce off the boards results in Dufour getting another partial breakaway, but again he’s denied. Rather than shot, he elected to try and stuff a backhand attempt by Merilainen. He had a lot less time and space than his first attempt.
7:27 p.m. — Canada gets Finland stuck in its own zone with the Stankoven-Johnson-Foerster line going to work. Johnson nearly had the team’s fifth goal, as Stankoven’s shot was initially stopped, but Johnson had a backhand chance with Merilainen down at the side of the net, but he heeled the shot.
7:22 p.m. — William Dufour gets a shorthanded breakaway for Canada, but his shot is denied by Merilainen.
7:20 p.m. — Finland get their first power play chance of the night as Bedard is called for holding the stick. As Joel Maatta was closing in on him, Bedard grabbed his stick and casually tossed it aside.
7:17 p.m. — Yikes, a horrible decision by Ethan del Mastro behind his own net nearly results in a Finland goal. He retrieved the puck and had a forechecker on him. Instead of going up the wall, he elects to come out in front of his net where Aatu Raty is waiting for him. Del Mastro is able to knock the puck away before Raty can get a shot off, but a bad decision by the Canadian defenseman.
7:12 p.m. — Canada nearly scored their fifth, as a shot gets initially stopped by Merilainen. It looks liek he has control but it squeaks out behind him and sits in the crease. Joshua Roy was at the top of the crease, but did not realize the puck was there before a Finnish defenseman slides the puck back under Merilainen’s legs.
7:10 p.m. — Seconds into the 2nd period and Canada has lit the lamp again. Greig collects a rebound and pots it home. After the late goal in the first by Finland, Canada sucks the momentum back their way.
Ridly Greig will do anything to score goals. @HockeyCanada #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nOxwMoKFX1
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 15, 2022
End 1st period: Canada 3, Finland 1
6:46 p.m. — After 20 minutes, Canada has a 3-1 lead. It was a shaky start, but Canada was able to finally get into a groove. It was a fairly competitive period between the two, but Canada was able to score on their limited chances.
6:45 p.m. — GOAL! With 56 seconds left, Finland gets a huge goal. Helenius gets the puck in the slot and and snaps a shot on net. It hits the skate of a Canadian defenseman and flutters over Garand’s shoulder. That’s a big goal for the Finns to get before the end of the period.
6:40 p.m. — GOAL! After a chance for Finland down at one end, Bedard rips a shot over the shoulder of Merilainen. It’s that quick release from Bedard. No traffic, defenseman played it well, Merilainen was square to Bedard, but that shot is something else. 3-0 Canada with less than three minutes left in the opening frame.
Mason McTavish to Connor Bedard makes it a 3-0 game! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/YBmN2zIwMv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2022
6:31 p.m. — GOAL! A sensational rush by Ridly Greig results in Tyson Foerster knocking the puck into the net. Greig rushes in and splits the Finnish defense. As he’s falling, he get it on net and Foerster taps in the rebound. Canada capitalizes on the power play and they are up 2-0 with under eight minutes left in the first.
Tyson Foerster: Splitting the D, scoring goals@HockeyCanada #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/uF3wTrhyeT
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 15, 2022
6:29 p.m. — The first power play of the game goes to Canada as Samuel Helelnius is called for slashing.
6:22 p.m. — GOAL! The call stands and it’s a good call for Othmann. He’s been excellent since he was bumped up to the top line. Assists go to Zellweger and Connor Bedard.
Brennan Othmann redirects it and Canada is on the board first! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/KSHzhUGiY9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2022
6:19 p.m. — On Canada’s first shot on goal, it gets by Leevi Merilainen thanks to an excellent tip by Brennan Othmann on an Olen Zellweger shot. The officials are going to review it for a potential high-stick, but it looks like Othmann’s stick was under the crossbar.
6:16 p.m. — While Finland is definitely the strongest opponent Canada has had, they are not doing themselves any favors. Canada has attempted a number of stretch passes thorugh the neutral zone that Finland’s defensemen are stepping up on and picking off. Too many turnovers early on for the Canadians.
6:14 p.m. — Finland has Canada on their heels early. Some turnovers and failed breakouts cause Canada to have an elongated shift in their zone. Dylan Garand has been forced to make some solid stops.
Pregame
5 p.m. — No lineups changes for Canada. Garand will get his third consecutive start in net. Brennan Othmann remains up with the top line alongside Connor Bedard and Mason McTavish.
Here are the lines for 🇨🇦 and 🇫🇮, who are playing for first place in Group A. This is a big one! pic.twitter.com/0DVlY59cdI
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) August 15, 2022
What channel is Canada vs. Finland on today?
- Canada: TSN 3/5
- United States: NHL Network
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call live in Edmonton. James Duthie and Bob McKenzie will provide analysis during intermissions.
How to live stream World Juniors hockey games
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games at TSN.ca or the TSN app. U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Canada vs. Finland start time
- Time: 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. MT)
The puck drops at 6 p.m. ET from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., home of the NHL’s Oilers and WHL’s Oil Kings.
MORE: Team Canada 2022 World Juniors roster, results
This is the fourth game for both clubs at the 2022 World Juniors.
Canada vs. Finland odds
- Canada: -1.5 (-103)
- Finland: +1.5 (-133)
Canada is a 1.5-goal favorite on the puckline for the contest against Finland at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction.
Canada World Juniors schedule 2022
(All times Eastern)
Date | Opponent | Result | Time (ET), TV |
Aug. 10 | Latvia | W, 5-2 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 11 | Slovakia | W, 11-1 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 13 | Czechia | W, 5-1 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 15 | Finland | — | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 17 | Quarterfinals | — | TBD (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 19 | Semifinals | — | TBD (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 20 | Bronze/gold | — | TBD (TSN, NHLN) |
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